Although it is the so-called golden autumn in August in the south, the north wind of Jindi is endless, and the more you go to Beijing, the colder the temperature becomes, and the snowflakes are about to fall.

Fortunately, the Jin people in Zong Han's team are all warriors who have been weathered by wind and snow, and although the temperature drops, the cold in the north is much better than the wet and cold in the south. Mandu Daru has heard these generals talk about the situation in Jiangnan more than once, the summer and autumn seasons are good, but the cold in winter and spring is accompanied by bursts of water vapor to soak in the clothes, it is really not a good place, and it is really the best feeling to go home.

A total of nearly 2,000 horses marched along the official road to Shangjing, and occasionally the nearby nobles came to visit the Marshal of Sticky Han and discuss it privately.

Mandu Daru, however, did not have much background, and he was one of several people who were summoned on the way until August 17, and it was the god Ceres, Xi Yin, who summoned him. Although the status of the two sides is very different, they have met several times before, and this time he was asked to come, not to go to Beijing, but to learn from him about the many problems that have occurred in the cloud in private for more than two years.

“…… Regarding the issue of this piece of the clouds, before going on the expedition, I originally had a certain amount of consideration, and I also greeted all parties, and if I had any thoughts and contradictions, I would wait until I returned from the southern expedition. But in the past two years, as far as I can see, people's hearts have fluctuated a little too much. ”

The army was advancing, and Wanyan Xiyin rode on his horse and spoke to Mandu Daru on the side.

"Dashuai and I are not here, some people have been provoked in private, and they can't wait, swords face each other, there is something strange in the middle, but until now, the documents are not clear. Including the incident that happened to the Qi family and Shi Yuanji in July of the previous year. It's not a battlefield, half of the city was messed up, and hundreds of people died, although the old man was pressed down, but I want to hear your opinion. Who did it - who do you think did it and how you did it, you can tell us in detail......"

There was a sound of hooves all around. This time I went to Shangjing, for the sake of the emperor's belonging, the victory or defeat of the game between the east and the west, and due to the defeat of the Western Route Army, the possibility of the loss of power in the West Mansion has been placed in front of almost everyone. But with Xi Yin's question, Mandu Daru could understand that what the Ceres in front of him was thinking about was already a matter of further distance.

After a moment of contemplation, he began to tell the clues found in the events in the clouds.

“…… In recent years, there are not a few bandits who have been active in the vicinity of Yunzhong, there are many people who seek wealth, and there are also those who vent their anger with revenge, but as far as they can see, most of the bandits are not meticulous in their actions. For more than ten years, I really want to say that I am good at planning, among the remnants of the Liao Kingdom, there have been several people like Xiao Qing, and then there is a series of secret detectives of the Wu Dynasty in the past, but Xiao Qing has been awarded the head three years ago, the secret detectives of the Wu Dynasty, since the loss of the Central Plains, the name of the real existence, the thief Huang Gan who had risen before, it is rumored in private that he is the leader arranged by the Wu Dynasty, but he has not been contacted by the south for many years, and then he fell into the grass, and he robbed the Han slaves and sent them to the south, but he died in internal strife two years ago, and there is no proof of death......"

"Except for Xiao Qing and Huang Gan, the rest are naturally Black Flag bandits, these people are meticulous and have a very detailed division of labor, and they have indeed done a lot of big cases over the years...... The incident in the clouds the year before last was extremely involved, and it is uncertain whether they are so-called and lowly in their positions. There are indeed many clues that look like the so-called Black Flag, for example, Qi Yan had a great enmity with the Black Flag in the Central Plains, and before the tragedy broke out, he also asked for some prisoners of the Black Flag Army from the south, wanting to torture and kill to vent his anger, if you want to say that the Black Flag wants to kill Qi Yan's mind, this must be there......"

“…… After the tragedy broke out, he surveyed the fire scene and found some suspected traces of man-made, such as Qi Yan and his two great-grandsons hid in the water tank to avoid danger, and were later boiled alive by the fire. Either they were tired after taking medicine, or they were pressed on the water tank...... And while it's possible that they climbed into the lid of the tank and then something smashed down and pressed the lid, it's a coincidence......"

"Of course, this matter was later related to Lord Shi, and the clues from Wanyan Wenqin's side pointed to Master Zongfu's side, and he was not allowed to investigate again. It is not surprising that this matter is said to be the work of the black flag, but on the other hand, the whole thing is interlocking and extremely involved, on the one hand, a Hannu named Dai Mo fiddled with Yan Wenqin, and on the other hand, a calculation included all kinds of bandits and even the grandson of the boss at the same time, even if you look at it from the back and forward, this calculation is extremely difficult, so it has not been carefully investigated, and the lowly position cannot be determined......"

Xi Yin, who was on the side, heard this and said, "What if it's a disciple of the heart demon?" ”

Mandu Daru said: "It is rumored in the south that the demon is powerful and has the ability to deceive people's hearts, but from the point of view of humble duties, even if they bewitch people's hearts, there must be traces to follow." It can only be said that if the matter of the Qi family the year before last was deliberately arranged by the people in the Black Flag, the ruthlessness of this person's means and the depth of his scheming should not be underestimated. ”

Xi Yin smiled: "Later, after all, it was still held by you." ”

Mandu Daru thought for a moment: "Don't dare to deceive your lordship, the one who killed him in a humble position, although he is indeed the leader of the Black Banner in the Northland, seems to have lived in Shangjing for a long time. According to the investigation over the years, there is another powerful leader in the clouds of the Black Flag, the one called the 'Clown'. Although it is difficult to determine whether the Qi family tragedy is related to him, after the incident, this person was in the middle of the series, and privately instigated several firefights with the rumors that Lord Zongfu and Lord Shi had a dislike and struck first, and many people were killed and ......injured."

"Pick up something strange that you noticed and tell me in detail."

"Yes......"

The team went all the way, and Mandu Daru sorted out many things in the cloud for more than two years. Originally, I was worried that these things were too talkative, but Xi Yin listened carefully, and occasionally asked a few words in a targeted manner. Speaking of the recent period, he asked about the killing of Han Nu in Yunzhong Mansion after the defeat of the Western Route Army, and after hearing Mandu Dalu's description, he was silent for a moment.

“…… In this world, no matter how docile the dog is, it will bite people, the Han people were weak in the past, and after more than ten or twenty years of bullying, they finally played a black flag. Dalu, one day in the future, there will be a decisive battle between my Dajin and the Black Flag, before that, the Han people who have taken captives to the north will farm and make things for us, just for the sake of a little spirit, we have to force them to death, and sooner or later there will be some people who are not afraid of death, and they will oppose us. In the Qi family tragedy, Dai Mo, who encouraged Yan Wenqin to do things and eventually caused a tragedy, may be such a person...... What do you think? ”

Xi Yin turned his head to look at him, and Mandu Daru bowed his hand: "My lord is very right. ”

"I heard that the leader you caught the black flag was also because you borrowed a Han woman to play the game, right?"

"Indeed." Mandu Daru said, "But the situation of this Han girl is also more special......"

He introduced the situation of the Han girl, and Xi Yin nodded: "After going to Beijing this time, after returning to the clouds, how to fight against the Black Flag spies and maintain order in the city will be a big deal." For the Han people, no more killings are allowed, but how to control them well, and even find a group of available people to help us catch the 'clowns', is also something to consider, at least Shi Yuanji's case, I want to have a result, and it can be regarded as a little explanation to Lord Shi. ”

Mandu Daru lowered his head, Xi Yin stretched out his horsewhip and nodded on his shoulder: "After I go back, I want you to be in charge of all matters related to the security patrol in the clouds, how to do it, you have to think about it these days." ”

The blood surged into Mandu Daru's head, he turned over and dismounted and half-knelt down to thank him, Xi Yin smiled and waved his hand: "No need to be polite, come up, let's go again!" ”

Mandu Daru got on his horse a few steps and followed.

……

Zong Han and Xi Yin's team traveled all the way north, and on the way, everyone's emotions were heroic and apprehensive. Mandu Daru originally came over just to accept some inquiries in front of the god of grains, but now that he was promoted, he couldn't help but be more concerned about the fate of Dashuai and others in the future, and he was worried.

There are rumors outside that the first emperor Wu Qimai has died in Beijing at this time, but the new emperor's candidate has not been decided, and the secretary in Beijing will not mourn, waiting for Zong Han Xiyin and others to arrive before making a decision. But where can such a thing be so easy to say, Zongfu Zongbi and the two of them returned to Beijing in triumph, and they must have been active in Beijing now, as long as they persuaded everyone in Beijing and let the new monarch ascend the throne in advance, maybe their team of less than 2,000 people has not yet arrived, and they will be surrounded by tens of thousands of troops.

As a veteran and head catcher who has been in the middle and lower ranks, Mandu Daru can't think of what is happening in Jingzhong, and he can't think of who is blocking Zongfu Zongbi's inevitable attack, but when he camps every night, he can clearly perceive that this army is also ready to fight or even break through at any time. It shows that they are not ignoring the worst-case scenario.

"People die and birds rise to the sky, and they will not die for thousands of years......"

At this point, worry is inevitable, but Mandu Daru has no choice but to sharpen his knife every day to prepare and prepare dry food, on the one hand, waiting for the worst possibility to come, and on the other hand, looking forward to the great marshal and the Hero of Ceres, after all, they can turn the tide in such a situation.

On August 24, light snow fell in the sky. The attack did not come, and their team approached the boundary of Shenzhou and had already walked halfway there......

……

At the same time, thousands of miles away in Chengdu, southwest China, the autumn sun is warm and warm. In the secluded health center, Ning Ji hurriedly came back from outside, holding a small package in his hand, and found Aunt Gu: "...... You can pass it on to her for me. ”

He roughly introduced the contents of the package, and Aunt Gu took the package and hesitated a little: "Why don't you give it to her yourself......"

"Whoever gives it to her is the same, it was hers. Aunt Gu, you and she are both women, so it's easier to say. I still have to pack my things, and I'm going back to Zhangcun tomorrow. ”

Aunt Gu laughed: "Are you really going back to study?" ”

"Well, if I don't go back, my mother will beat me." Ning Ji stretched out his hand and rubbed his nose, then laughed, "And I miss my mother and younger siblings too." ”

"That'...... Don't go to say goodbye to her? ”

"Well, I'll check it out later...... What is there to say goodbye to her......"

Ning Ji jumped in, leaving Aunt Gu here and sighed slightly.

……

The afternoon sun was slanting into the courtyard, falling through the open window, and after a while, the little military doctor in a white doctor's uniform knocked on the door of the ward and walked in.

"Doctor Long, you're here."

Qu Longjun, who was sitting on the bed, smiled at the young man.

A month passed, and there was not much communication between the two, but Qu Longjun finally overcame his fear and was able to smile at this Dragon doctor, so the other party's face looked better. He nodded naturally at her.

"Well, take your pulse."

He sat down on the edge of the bed, Qu Longjun reached out and let the other party's fingers fall on her wrist, followed by a few more customary questions and conversations. Until the end, Qu Longjun said, "Doctor Long, you look very happy today?" ”

"My brother is getting married."

"Oh, congratulations to them."

That's all for their communication......